"We are making record booking for the upcoming Pak-India match to be played in Mohali (India)," disclosed a bookie, requesting anonymity.
Our expectation of doing business on semi-final between the teams of arch rivals is much more than even final of the World Cup, adds the bookie who takes bets in the interior city area.
"It was infact a dream of bookmakers that teams of Pak and India came face to face in semi-final or final of the cricket competition," he remarked.
"Keeping in view the rush of booking, I am expecting windfall profit on March 30," commented another bookie, known as Badshah by his customers.
Badshah said apart from betting on match as who will become victorious, bets will also be placed during crucial hours of the game. During critical stage of the game, bets are made on each ball and we earn more, he added.
Presently, he said, favorite team is Pakistan and people are mostly investing on their own team.
In response to a question as how much amount he has to pay to those who win the bet, he said the reward is hardly ten percent of the booking being made by bookies.
About the amount of maximum reward, he said, he has tagged Rs. One Lakh for making a bet of Rs. 3000. However, the maximum amount vary depending on financial status of the bookie and customers.
Another person who has put money at stake on the victory of Pakistan, told APP that in order to enter the net of bookies you have be submit some amount, more than the bet, as security. The whole business is being done on phone and the bookie made booking after collecting security, he added.
In case you win the bet, the security is returned along with the reward and in case of loss, the amount put at stake is cut from the security, he continued.
It merits a mention here that the curse of betting has spread in our society involving people in gambling for the lust of earning more by making small investment.
People belonging to different shades of life when contacted, expressed serious concern over clandestine business of bookmaking. They demanded of the government to take concrete measures for curbing this practice which will have very negative impact on society.
Meanwhile, SP City Police, Imtiaz Khan when contacted said bookmaking is a crime and Police is regularly conducting raids to nab persons involved in this illegal business.